390.1115A/57: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Thailand (Grant)
Washington, October 23, 1940—5
p.m.
70. Your 125, October 17, 6 p.m.
- 1.
- For your information. In view of the abnormal situation which continues in the Far East, the Department is taking, as it has heretofore taken in the Far East and in different parts of Europe, precautionary steps for the safety of American citizens by suggesting that especially women and children and men who are not detained by essential or urgent considerations consider coming out of various disturbed areas. Similarly the Department is suggesting that persons of the categories mentioned now in the United States consider postponing their return to certain regions of the Far East. The foregoing applies to Japan, China, Hong Kong, Indochina, Manchuria, Kwantung Leased Territory, Korea, and Formosa, but not to Thailand.
- 2.
- The Department does not contemplate at this time extending to Thailand the procedure set forth in paragraph 1 above. However, if you consider that circumstances so warrant, you may, in your discretion, quietly and discreetly bring the contents of paragraph 1 above to the attention of American inquirers as a matter of information in order to ensure that American citizens of the categories mentioned might have that information as of possible assistance to them in reaching their own decisions.
- 3.
- In order that this instruction be not misconstrued in any quarter, it is desired that special effort be made to avoid any publicity in regard thereto and that endeavor be made to preclude the reading into it of any sensational implications. We do not, of course, wish to create in the minds of anyone any unwarranted impression that we consider Thailand to be unsafe.
- 4.
- The Department of course desires that you continue to inform it of significant developments relating to the question of the safety of American citizens in Thailand.
Hull